AR-CAN provides live coverage of legislative meetings

CONWAY — The Arkansas Educational Television Network and Gov. Asa Hutchinson earlier this week announced the launch of the Arkansas Citizens Access Network, a web-based network that will provide Arkansans with livestreaming coverage of legislative proceedings, board and commission meetings, and other government hearings and activities.

The website is located at http://www. aetn.org/arcan.

“Today, we begin a new era for government transparency in Arkansas,” AETN Executive Director Courtney Pledger said in a news release. “Our citizens will now have a front-row seat to many government proceedings where they may have an interest but cannot physically attend.

“The public is eager to learn more about how their government operates, and with increased knowledge comes increased confidence and trust. We have created AR-CAN to provide unprecedented access to state government proceedings, as well as educational tools to grow students’ understanding of civics and public affairs. Ultimately, Arkansans will be able to view state government in action live, through one online hub, without having to travel from their homes, offices or classrooms — an unparalleled educational opportunity.”

The goal of AR-CAN is to provide as many livestreaming events as possible, allowing constituents to choose what to watch, the release said. For legislative hearings, the livestreams are provided by the House of Representatives and the Senate. AR-CAN will also host streaming of all state agency, board or commission meetings that provide a stream.

“AETN will use the network’s team of professionals to offer additional meeting streams — the first time many of these meetings and government events have been made readily available to the public without traveling to a physical location,” the release said.

Upcoming events currently in the streaming schedule include the State Board of Finance quarterly meeting Feb. 5, the Arkansas Tobacco Settlement Commission meeting Feb. 12, the State Board of Education meeting Feb. 14 and the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission meeting Feb. 21.

A full schedule of events is available on the website.

Due to the large number of meetings held each month by state agencies and boards, events deemed to have the most public interest will be covered. Suggestions for events to be livestreamed on ARCAN are encouraged and may be made on the website.

In addition to legislative proceedings and public meetings, AR-CAN will offer livestreaming of select special events including state agency news conferences, official government announcements, major conferences and other state official business.

Videos will remain on the site for approximately 30 days following the live event.